For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.

Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:

Bandits ~ This is my term, derived from Defensive Schemes, for Players with the WingSpan for the Defensive Line yet who, unlike Dragons, lack the Size to play there regularly, because they can't be expected to Anchor against the Run.

They are thus the right Size though a bit tall to play MidFielder and can generally do so, but I believe are optimally employed as Wild Cards, deployed all over the Formation from Snap to Snap, usually in the murky, shifty region between the Defensive Line and the MidFielders, usually standing up, and generally giving no clue as to their Intentions.

I believe that the Bandit, whatever he's called in a given Formation, stands at the very EpiCenter of the disruptive Changes that Defensive Formations are undergoing today. Their unique combination of Size & Speed offers precisely that Wild Card Variable that I believe is potentially priceless for Defenses to compete and indeed to excel in the incessantly and rapidly evolving Strategic LandScape of the 21st Century. The Prototype would be around 6050/245 or so, I'd say.

As the ultimate Defensive Hybrid, Bandits could quite conceivably Rush the Passer, Blitz the Run, or Drop into Coverage on any given play, and from virtually any alignment on the Line or in the BackField. They won't anchor against the Run very effectively, they won't overwhelm with Power in their Pass Rush, and they're not built to Turn & Burn with WideOuts in Coverage, but they are in fact optimally built to conceivably compete effectively in all three Facets of the Game.Of course, where and how any given Coach chooses to deploy his Players is his Business. Players that I characterize as Bandits may often or even routinely line up anywhere, on any given Down. My only purpose is simply to identify what I perceive as Skill Sets, to distinguish types, if you will, and perhaps create a universal Point of Reference.

When evaluatingBandits, this is how I break down the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:

Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Defensive Lineman to project Power in the Passing Game and to reject Power in the Running Game.

Agility: Launch Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.

Intangibles:Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Navigating Traffic, Processing Speed, Motor, and Tackling.

Power:Horrible. He converted from Split End one Year ago. You can tell. Funny thing, though: His outstanding Combine Numbers and his Track & Field History suggest that there is considerable Potential there, if he Beefs Up.

Combat Skills: Awful, but of course that's to be expected after one Year. Phenomenal WingSpan.

Intangibles: Tremendous. Mediocre Field Vision, but actually quite remarkable in the context of his very brief Experience at Defensive End. I'm inclined to believe it'll become excellent, given Time & Training. Outstanding Motor.

Run Defense: Deficient. Horrible at The Point of Attack, of course. Occasionally Disruptive in the BackField, but he flashes immense Potential, here. Competitive In Pursuit: Tremendous Acceleration and an outstanding Motor. His Processing Speed is developing, though, and if he's around in a few Years, his Pursuit will likely become an huge Strength.

Pass Rush: Mediocre, but potentially extraordinary, give a great deal of Time & Training and Dedication. He isn't going to Bull Rush anyone any time soon, but his tremendous Launch Velocity & Closing Speed, his outstanding Motor, and especially that phenomenal WingSpan of his could eventually translate into an extraordinary Machine.

Obum Gwacham Prospectus

Obum Gwacham's is certainly a fascinating Story, but I'll as always leave the BioGraphies to others.

I like this kid's Prospects. He's got a long, long way to go if he's ever going to become an Impact Player, and there is by no means any Certainty that he ever will. He needs to Beef Up his Core Power considerably, his Mechanics need intensive Schooling, and he needs somehow to develop his Field Vision on limited Repetitions...But I like his Prospects.

It has taken a long time ~ quite possibly too long ~ for Gwacham to find a Path to FootBall Success, but his combination of tremendous Short Speed and that extraordinary WingSpan translate to enormous Pass Rushing Potential.

And his Field Vision, though raw, is remarkably developed for such a short period of Time on the Defender's side of the Ball, which suggests to me that he has at least the capacity to rapidly acclimate himself to Training.

Allow me to spare you a Click and a Scroll, if not my Insufferable Repetition:"Trajectory > A mercurial Formula that blends Talent, Speed of Improvement, and the Probability of continuing that Speed of Improvement, based on perceived Intelligence, Passion, and Work Ethic: Talent x Intelligence x Drive."

Sometimes Intensive Study isn't enough: Usually, in fact, Players need a lot of Quality Reps to begin to master their Jobs, and the later you get drafted, the less available those Quality Repetitions tend to be. Thus, the Investment that a Team makes in a Prospect has an overwhelmingly strong Tendency to become a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.

I am Dead Certain that an Ocean of Talented, Intelligent, and Driven Prospects never made it just because of this.

So I presume Nothing of Obum Gwacham's Future...or of anyone's, for that matter.

But despite the vast Sea of Time & Training and all the other Obstacles that lie between him and Success, he in my mind represents one Hell of a fine Investment of Time, Training, and Draft Capital. We'll see how it plays out.Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!

Yank Rank: Contender ~ Par Value!!

Market Value

4th/5th Round

Yankee Grade

4th/5th Round

Please do Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men and women of Good Will!! I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!!

None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!!